I think you can consider yourself lucky. As somebody who did things to other way around (I lived in Panama for 20+ before moving to the largest city of Western Canada), my experience has been completely the opposite to the ones you described.

I have been mugged in Panama a couple of times, whereas I have not even once felt threatened here – Not even when I am walking in the infamous Downtown Eastside.

In Panama, I have been asked for ID countless amount of times, just because I am Chinese. In fact, when I travelled to Panama last year for vacation, I was the only person who had the passport double checked by the manager-on-duty at immigration (I was travelling with my Canadian passport). Here? Not even once. Well, only when I pick a package at a Canada Post stand.

I have seen my share of brawls here, as well as in Panama. But, then again, I have been desensitized on this issue, specially when you take into consideration I used to read local Panamanian newspapers like “Critica Libre” and “El Siglo”.

I am not saying Panama is a bad place to visit/live; in fact, I would like to go there again sometime. In the end, issues like the ones we have mentioned are a matter of perspective – the one you get after living in a place after a while.

Having said all that, if you want to live in Panama, you will have to play by Panamanian rules. And producing an ID when requested is one of those rules. It is unfortunate, though, law-enforcement members try to exploit this for personal benefit (in the form of coimas). At the same time, locals and foreigners should take a partial blame as well. Check, for example, this article written by Matt: http://www.thepanamareport.com/panama-culture/a-guide-to-bribery-and-other-illegal-things-367-31.html